Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-07
THE BLUE AND THE RAY

Unite i'm Paying Tribute to the Memo
 rY of a Confederate ChIeftain.
 NEW ORLEANS. April 6.-To-day the long cherished desire of the Louisiana division of the Army of the Tennessee to erect testi- monial of their esteem and reverence for the first and greatest commander was realized and the old veterans eyes were gratiied by the crowning of the magnificent tomb of the association at Metaire cemetery of Alexander Dovle's splendid equestrian statue of Albert Sydney Johnston. Nature could not have provided a fairer day for the event; the sun shone brilliantly from a cloudless sky, but his rays were sufficiently tempered to cause the crowd of ten thousand people who had assembled around the tomb no inconvenient warmth. The association of the Army of the Tennessee was formed soon after the close of the war to keep alive the memories of their struggle and to provide for helpless comrades. During the yellow fever epidemic of 1873 so many veterans died that it was de- cided to erect tomb in which all members should be buried until their friends should desire to remove their remains. A sufficient sum was soon raised and 8 handsome vault was constructed. It was then decided to crown the structure with statue of Hon. Jefferson Davis, and Mrs. Dorsey, who after ward bequeathed Beauvoir to the Confederate chieftain, agreed to bear the expenses. When the purpose of the association was made known to MT. Davis, however, he refused to sit and later at a meeting of the association advised that an equestrian statue of General Johnston be substituted. His suggestion was wildly applauded and the association then and there pledged itself to MT. Davis recommendation. Alexander Doyle. the artist, agreed to furnish 8 suitable monument for $12,00O. This sum was speedily raised by subscription and other means and to-day's ceremony is the result.
 At noon the military and civic organizations
 began to form at Lafayette Square. Con- spicuous in the ranks large delegation
 of members of Joseph A. Mower post, G. A. R., who had come out to assist the veteran Confederates to do honor to their old com mander. Ire Federal and Confederate asso-
 citations of this city always fraternize and on this occasion the presence of the ex-Feder- als while not novel was greatly appreciated.
 The procession took up line of march to the trains that were to convey them to the cemetery which was reached a few minutes
 before o'clock. As the procession entered
 
 tomb parted and the auxiliary took position on the mound. The ceremonies were opened
 with prayer by Rev. A. G. Witherspoon, an old Confederate chaplain; the presentation
 of the tomb to the association, followed by
 Comrade Fendelhorn and then little Rose
 Robinson, great granddaughter of General
 Johnston, unveiled the statue while the vet erans of the Washington Artillery, who
 served battery of guns at Shiloh, fired
 salute of thirty eight guns. Comrade w. Il. Rogers president of the association, accept ed the statue for the association. A poem by Mrs. Mary Ashley Townsend was then read and then Senator Randall L. Gibson was then introduced and delivered the ora tion of the day. He reviewed the character of General Johnston and paid high tribute to his military genius. poem by Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood of Toledo, Ohio, followed and the ceremonies were closed with benediction by Comrade Right Rev. J. N. Galleher, bishop of Louisiana. The ceremo- nies were interspersed throughout with mu- sic; among the popular airs were Dixie and Bonnie Blue Flag. Among the distinguished persons present were Hon. Jefferson Davis, Miss Varina Davis, Mrs. A. s. Johnston; widow of General Johnston, Colonel William Preston Johnston, his son and 8 large num- Der of his descendants of the third and fourth generations. The City Hall and all the exchanges as we'll many stores were closed in order to give all an opportunity of attending the ceremonies.
 After MT. Rogers speech was finished Mir. Davis was called upon to speak. He declared the figure to be the best equestrian statue, man and horse, in any country. Not only did it present correct likeness of the man, but of the steed, too. MT. Davis said: True to his characteristics General Johnston saw the efforts of few States to deprive the mi nority of all they held sacred and came through a trackless desert to offer his sword to the minority which were struggling for their rights This was the only poll ical all fusion Mir. Davis made.